The announcement of a proposed 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, to be brokered by the United States, marks a pivotal moment in a war that has defied diplomatic solutions for over three years. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing readiness to move forward, the pressure now shifts squarely on Moscow.

Whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will entertain this overture remains uncertain, but the implications of either acceptance or rejection are significant. For Ukraine, Mr Zelenskky’s willingness to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities suggests a strategic recalibration. His acceptance of the US proposal, after high-stakes talks with Mr Rubio and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Saudi Arabia, signals Kyiv’s desire to explore diplomatic options ~ perhaps to relieve battlefield pressure, or to reposition itself for negotiations that secure long-term guarantees. After years........

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